Folding basket



May 13 1924,

L. SMITH FOLDING BASKET Filed July 24 1923 I 5! 1-11: dill 0'3 .21 6 25m gf -jiyl I Patented May 13, 1924.

rrao Tres LEE SMITH, OF KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE.

FOLDING BASKET.

Application filed. July 24, 1923. Serial No. 653,508.

i have not been practical as they lack rigidity in structure and in nesting of the cooperating members in position for immediate use,

and did not provide for a ready the basket members as units.

The present invention has for an object to provide a folding basket comprising cooperating body members connected to fold upon each other so that when in open posifolding of tion a receptacle is provided and when folded a receptacle of different shape is formed and adapted for other uses.

A further object of the invention is to provide the body members pivotally mounted upon each other together with means for rigidly retaining the members in open position.

Another object of the invention is to provide the body members with a pivoted connecting strip cooperating with means upon the abutting edges of the members to effect an interlocked connection with said strip at the point of intersection and also to provide a handle for the basket when in folded position.

Other and further objects of the invention will be hereinafter set forth and the novel features thereof defined by the appended claims.

In the drawing:-

Figure 1 is a perspective of the invention; Figure 2 is a side elevation thereof in open position;

Figure 3 is tion;

Figure 4 is a vertical 44 of Figure 2; and

Figure 5 is a detail section through the connecting strip.

Like numerals refer to like parts througha similar view in closed posisection on line out the several figures of the drawing.

The basket or receptacle may be of any desired size or configuration and. formed of any material preferred. but for the purpose of illustration is herein shown as of a woven character. In this form of the invention the body portion 10 is provided with a con necting strip ll which is preferably of a U-shape and comprises the bottom member 12 and the uprights 13 at opposite ends thereof. The member 12 is formed with recessed portions 14 at its opposite side edges adapted to receive connecting plates 17 carried by the bottom of the folding sections 18 so as to form an interlocked tight joint at the abutting edges of the two body sections or members. The members 18 are provided at their upper edges with the usual binding strip 19 which is pivotally connected at 20 to the upper ends of the uprights 13 from the connecting strip. This pivot passes through the binding strip 19 at the upper edge of the members 10 and also through the depending legs 22 of the handle 23 so that a single pivot ateach side of the basket forms a connecting means for both the handle and the folding member. As shown in Figure 3. when the basket is folded, the strip 11 is swung away therefrom to provide a handle.

When the basket is in opened or extended position it is desirable to prevent any folding movement thereof in use, and proper means may be provided for that purpose. A desirable form thereof is herein. shown as comprising the brace hooks 24 pivoted at 25 upon the handle and having a seat 26 at tlieirfree end adapted to engage a pin 27 or other suitable means carried by the binding strips of the basket members. These braces in practice may be disposed between the layers of the binding strips which embracethe edge of the body of the basket, particularly when it is formed of a woven material. The braces retain the handle in rigid vertical position and also resist any pivotal movement of the basket members toward each other while the downward strain thereof is supported by the braces and also the connecting strip by which the edges of the body members are interlocked. When the basket members are folded this strip forms a carrying handle for a basket of the shopping bag type.

In the use of the invention it is only necessary to disengage the braces when one of the members may be folded upon the other into the position shown in Figure 3, which changes the shape and reduces the size of the receptacle to provide a handled structure adapted to form acontainer for materials, thus providing two different types of handled baskets in a single device. The basket when in folded condition reduces the space necessary for transportation or storage and protects the handle against injury while the pivotal connection of the parts permit their ready adjustment into open position by simply swinging the basket members away from each other. A folding basket receptacle is thus formed which can be manufactured at a minimum cost and provides a rigid and efiicient receptacle for carrying purposes.

While the details of the invention have been specifically shown and described, changes and alterations may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A folding receptacle comprising body portions having open abutting ends pivoted together to form when open a continuous elongated receptacle of relatively shallow depth and when closed a different open top receptacle of greater depth than width.

2. A folding receptacle comprising body portions having open abutting ends, pivoted at their top edges to permit such edges at each side of the pivot to be brought together to form a receptacle open at said abutting edges.

3. A folding receptacle comprising body portions having open abutting ends pivoted together to form a continuous elongated receptacle and to permit the free ends of said portions to overlap and form the bottom of a. different open top receptacle.

4. A folding receptacle comprising a body member provided at one end with a connecting strip, a cooperating member pivoted thereto, and means upon said cooperating member to interlock with said strip.

5. A folding receptacle comprising a body member provided at one end with a connecting strip, a cooperating member pivoted thereto, means upon said cooperating mem her to interlock with said strip, and a handle member mounted upon the pivots of the body members.

6. A folding receptacle comprising a body member provided at ing strip, a cooperating member pivoted thereto, means upon said cooperating member to interlock with said strip, a handle member mounted upon the pivots of the body members, and a brace extending from said handle member to one of said body members.

7. A folding receptacle comprising connected open body members, and a connecting strip having recesses therein. to receive the edges of said members whereby an interlocking connection is formed.

8. A folding receptacle comprising connected pivoted body members, a handle pivoted thereto, and a pivoted brace from said handle adapted to engage one of said body members.

9. A folding receptacle comprising pivoted bodymembers, a handle carried thereby, and a pivoted brace hook mounted upon the handle and disposed to engage interlocking means upon one body member.

10. A folding receptacle comprising opposite pivoted body members adapted to be folded upon each other, and a connecting strip disposed at the abutting edges of said members when in open position and adapted to form a handle therefor when folded to form a different receptacle.

11. A folding receptacle comprising opposite open members pivotally connected together, a handle portion pivoted upon said members at their point of intersection, and a connecting strip extending in an opposite direction from said handle portion to receive the edges of the body portions when opened and form a handle therefor when said portions are closed.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

LEE SMITH.

one end with a connect- 

